Feminist Criticism of Portia and Calpurnia.

Feminism aims to acieve rights and equality for women in social, political and economic life. Feminists point to the fact that throughout history, power has been in the hands of men, both in society and in the family. In the subordinate roles of Calpurnia and Portia, Julius Caesar clearly reflects that patriarchal control, and feminists see the issue of unjust male power and control as crucial to understanding Rome.

To a woman's ear, the ear of a woman who has been married more than once, as the historical Portia herself had been, the words of Brutus strike a familiar note. The wife takes her husband by surprise; "What are you doing here?" he asks, rather puy out as the brocken movement of his first line shows: "Portia! What mean you? Wherefore rise you now?" (Act 2, Scene 2, line 234). AS a form of greeting this leaves something to be desired.

We see the wound that Portia gives herself as evidence that Potia has, 'in her